How do we know the difference between ’61 and ’63 basses? The spacing between the pickups. Paul’s ‘61 bass had closer-spaced pickups (this model is now listed in the Höfner catalog as the “Cavern” bass). The ‘63 bass had pickups spaced farther apart (now listed as the 500/1).
In 1964, Paul got his ’61 bass refurbished and used it for special projects including the rooftop concert during which it was stolen. Paul continues to use the ’63 Höfner to this day but mainly for live performances. In studio, he prefers to use his 4001S Rickenbacker and his P-bass (which was used on the Band on the Run album). He did take his Rickenbacker onstage for a while but claimed it was so heavy that he couldn’t move around much but the Höfner is feather-light and easy to jump around with and besides that “people expect to see it.”
So how do the controls work?
There are two volume knobs—one for each pickup. With all three toggle switches engaged, both pickups are deactivated. BASS ON activates the front pick up and deactivates the back pickup. TREBLE ON activates the back pickup but deactivates the front pickup. So if both switches are turned on simultaneously, both pickups are cut deactivated. RHYTHM/SOLO will work when either or both pickups are active. When BASS ON and TREBLE ON switches are both off, both puckups are active but have a less beefy sound. One can then isolate the pickups by using the volume knobs or, of course, you can mix both signals as you desire. RHYTHM/SOLO can be in either position during this time also and will function. So you have a lot of ways to vary your sound with this bass. It’s surprisingly functional. Just make sure TREBLE ON and BASS ON are not engaged simultaneously or you have just turned both pickups off.
Despite the fame Paul has brought Höfner and has made the 500/1 one of the world’s most sought after instruments, Paul and the Höfner corporation have had very little contact with one another over the years. One would think that Paul would have sat on its board of directors or something by now and that Höfner would have issued a Paul signature 500/1 but this has never happened and probably never will. They do, however, advertise the 500/1 as “the Beatle bass” but Paul is not mentioned by name. Strange that Epiphone does issue a Paul McCartney signature acoustic guitar but Höfner does not issue a Paul signature anything but that’s how things are sometimes.
A lefty 500/1 autographed by Paul that sold for $10,000.
Once again, the headstock is upside-down so Höfner does not make true lefty necks but simply flip the guitar body over and do it up for the left-handed player. Makes sense. It would be unnecessarily expensive to make true lefty necks when this works as well. In fact, the company got the idea from Paul.
Paul shows a curious Ed Sullivan how his bass works.